Portuguese 
Spanish 
Billion-dollar project advances in São Paulo with assisted operation, deep stations, tunnels excavated by tunnel boring machines, and a promise to drastically reduce travel time between Brasilândia and São Joaquim, in one of the most important urban mobility projects in São Paulo.
The São Paulo Government started the assisted operation of the first section of the Line 6-Orange of the subway this Thursday (02), a project of R$ 19 billion pointed out by the state administration as the largest urban mobility project under implementation in Latin America.
In this initial stage, the service will have six stations, between João Paulo I and Perdizes, with free access, reduced hours, and operation focused on technical monitoring before expanding the operation.
When fully completed, the line will have 15.3 kilometers, 15 stations, 22 trains, and an estimated capacity to transport about 633 thousand passengers per day in the São Paulo capital.
-
Brazilian Nurse Turns Unscheduled Massage Sessions into a Franchise Network with 24 Locations, Generating Up to $42,000 Monthly per Store
-
New Mold Removal Method Eliminates Stains Without Damaging Paint and Tackles Root Cause in Humid Conditions Over 70%
-
Goodbye Kitchen Sponge: New Eco-Friendly Alternative Reduces Microplastic Pollution from Dishwashing.
-
Failed Family Bakery Sparks Engineer’s Innovation, Leading to a $100 Million Energy-Efficient Oven Company in Brazil
Between Brasilândia and São Joaquim, the route planned by the government is expected to drop to 23 minutes, replacing a journey that currently can take approximately 1h30 by bus.
First section of Line 6-Orange will have six stations
The initial phase includes the stations João Paulo I, Freguesia do Ó, Santa Marina, Água Branca, Sesc-Pompeia, and Perdizes, forming the first segment open to the public.
During the assisted operation, trains will run from Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 3 pm, without fare charges and with an expected interval of 13 minutes.
In the public-private partnership model, the concession of Line 6-Orange involves execution and operation linked to the University Line, responsible for the project.
Halted in 2016, the works were resumed in 2020, after the entry of a new concessionaire into the project and the reorganization of the implementation.
According to Agência SP, the construction mobilized about 11 thousand direct jobs along the work fronts opened for the new line.
In addition to shortening daily trips, the branch is expected to improve integration between neighborhoods in the north, west, and central areas, regions with strong demand for public transport.
Tunnel Boring Machines Marked the Progress of Metro Tunnels
In the underground phase, the project gained prominence for the use of two tunnel boring machines, large-scale equipment popularly known as “tatuzões”.
As they advance underground, these machines excavate the tunnels and install the structural lining that supports the future passage of metro trains.
One of the tunnel boring machines was named Maria Leopoldina, a tribute associated with the Empress of Brazil during the independence period.
Weighing about 2,000 tons, 109 meters in length, and with a 10.6-meter excavation diameter, the equipment traveled approximately 8.9 kilometers between the Marginal Tietê region and São Joaquim Station.
In February 2025, the South Tunnel Boring Machine completed the excavation of the southern section, concluding one of the most complex phases of the underground implementation.
Months earlier, in October 2024, the machine had recorded a milestone of 41.3 meters excavated in 24 hours, a record highlighted by the state government.
Of the approximately 15 kilometers of track, practically 13 kilometers were executed with tunnel boring machines, a solution adopted in the longest sections of the route.
Other construction methods were also used, such as NATM, the English acronym for New Austrian Tunneling Method, in addition to sections made in open trenches.
Line 6 Trains Will Have Capacity for 2,044 Passengers
For full operation, the planned fleet of Line 6-Orange will consist of 22 trains, sized to meet the high daily demand of the axis.
Each train can carry up to 2,044 passengers and reach a maximum speed of 90 km/h, although commercial circulation should occur at up to 80 km/h.
Another relevant aspect of the project is the depth of the stations, a characteristic that places part of Line 6 among the deepest structures in the São Paulo system.
Included in the first section, Água Branca will have a 47.8-meter depth and will be among the deepest stations in the São Paulo metro.
With the completion of the route, Itaberaba-Hospital Vila Penteado Station is expected to reach a 65-meter depth, surpassing references like Santa Cruz, on Line 5-Lilac.
Line 6-Orange Promises to Reduce Travel Time
The full implementation of Line 6-Orange is expected to change the routine of passengers who currently rely on buses to travel long distances in the capital.
According to the official forecast, the reduction in travel time can ease daily commutes, reduce traffic pressure, and contribute to lower pollutant emissions.
At this initial stage, however, the assisted operation will have limited reach, with controlled circulation and monitoring of the systems before the full expansion of the service.
This period allows for testing equipment, adjusting procedures, and observing the operation of the stations under real conditions, but still without the routine of full commercial operation.
With billion-dollar investment, tunnels excavated by large machines, and the promise of cutting more than an hour on the journey between Brasilândia and São Joaquim, will the Line 6-Orange be able to change the way part of the population commutes through São Paulo?
